The Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency said Thursday that it has launched an investigation into a pastor in his 30s at a local church for allegedly molesting teen girls and young women at his church over the past ten years. The police did not release the name of the pastor or the church as it is still in the investigation stage.

The pastor is suspected of befriending and establishing emotional connections with girls in the church’s youth group before committing the sexual assaults. Victims may top 20.

The Incheon police team is mulling to book the pastor for violating the law on juvenile protection against sexual abuse. In Korea, if a person has sex with a minor aged 12 or younger, the person can face up to life imprisonment even if the sex relation was mutually agreed. Also, the police can initiate a criminal investigation without a victim filing a complaint when it finds the sexual crime was forcefully made.